It's #Halloween night when spooks, wizards and witches are out and about. And talking of witches - @janiceheppenstall.bsky.social latest article for @sussexbylines.co.uk picks up the witchy theme to explore much scarier witch hunts happening in the real world

My latest article for Sussex Bylines has just published. It's not your usual 'spooky' Hallowe'en tale.... It's far more horrifying than that.

The real danger to human rights is from individual governments intent on authoritarian power and control | Janice Heppenstall

It’s that time of year again. Bruce Smeath updates us on the continuing fun to be had on Halloween.

You might think the rampant commercialism of Halloween is a recent introduction from the US, but that’s not the case.

It's refreshing to read @richardjmurphy.bsky.social excellent analysis of nationalism in his latest Substack post, given the rash of England flags appearing on lampposts in some Sussex towns. Is nationalism good or bad? Well, it depends... www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/10...

Very few laughs at the Riyadh Comedy Festival | Ross McNally

Ginny Foster writes about the impact of budget cuts on SEND provision in one Sussex primary school - but the crisis in support for children with #SpecialEducationalNeeds is nationwide and not featured nearly enough in the msm

Looking back over the past week there's a wonderful variety of articles for you to enjoy. From a punk rock gig review to an interview with an unlikely #DefenderofDemocracy; the terrible toll on journalists in #Gaza to a school campaign against budget cuts - go to www.sussexbylines.co.uk

We covered a lot of ground in our interview with Major General Charlie Herbert for our #DefendersofDemocracy series - in part one of a two-part article he shares his views on the occupation of #Gaza, and the disastrous example established by US interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan

Much-loved South Malling school in crisis. The real-world consequences of chronic underfunding | Ginny Foster

Retired Major-General, Charlie Herbert, talks about his values, his army career, and military force as a last resort | Ginny Smith

The Pill headline Omeara London with brand new EP | Rudi Banfield

We surely need neither bullies nor appeasers governing us. | Tom Serpell

In the absence of international journalists in Gaza, young people are risking everything to bring news to the rest of the World | Mick Channon

Bylines Network Reader Survey 2025 10 minutes to shape the future of citizen journalism bit.ly/BylinesNetworkSurvey

New one from me. Come on, all you writers

With the mainstream media steadily moving to the right, it is more urgent than ever that we have independent, ethical media outlets willing to speak truth to power. Citizen journalism can be a powerful force for good and James Joughin issues a call to arms in his piece for @sussexbylines.co.uk

A call for would-be citizen journalists to join the Sussex team in speaking truth to power | James Joughin

Publication Days - a reminder that new articles are published in @sussexbylines.co.uk every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday - and on a Sunday as our #SundayRead

Fantastic article by my friend at Sussex Bylines, Viv Griffiths. Kier Starmer and his government have started to dare to utter the B word. It's time now to move away from Reform UK's narrative altogether, and to speak the truth about the positive aspects of migration for our country.

Well done Keir Starmer. Utterly predictable. You now find yourself on the same side as Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who has just said he will be attending the Aston Villa match to "support" Maccabi Tel Aviv. Result? Many more police needed, and almost guaranteed violence. @mikegalsworthy.bsky.social

@sussexbylines.co.uk published powerful articles this week on #immigration by two of our outstanding regular writers @mickchannon.bsky.social and Viv Griffiths. Read them here:

Local concerns about safety may well be valid but there is no proven link between the presence of asylum seekers in HMOs and rising crime | Mick Channon

Despite denouncing Farage’s views, there’s little difference between the rhetoric of Labour and Reform UK | Viv Griffiths

From mashed up zombie faces to panther heads with a dagger sliding through their skulls, The London Tattoo Show enthralls | Rudi Banfield

The annual Harvey's Harvest Festival in Lewes took place at the beginning of October and was a joyful affair | Ginny Foster

Do we resign ourselves to a two-tier society, or do we accept the uncomfortable truth that inequality anywhere diminishes us all? | Mick Channon

Experiences of a first Party Conference from one of our editors | Pea Channon

Enjoy our articles? Then consider joining our team of volunteer editors, writers and proofreaders! We have exciting plans for 2026, and would love to hear from you if you are interested in contributing a few hours a week to help us develop those plans. Contact [email protected]

@sussexbylines.co.uk has exciting plans for the future - do you enjoy our articles and could you be interested in being part of that future? Then do get in touch to find out more about volunteering with us. Contact [email protected]

A riveting tale, full of eccentric characters and in which - for once - the community wins out over the establishment. Thank you to writer @alighanimi.bsky.social for a fascinating article. You can support QueenSparkBooks to help keep their unique archive free and online here queensparkbooks.org.uk

The Sun corrects Katie Lam's numerous errors and lies about foreign nationals claiming benefits. archive.ph/vQ7Tn

This is a lie. There are many criticisms you might sensibly and truthfully make of the Sentencing Council and the Sentencing Guidelines. I’ve been making them for years. But this is an outright lie. Pure fabrication. A fraud on the public.

A 50-year old enterprise dedicated to local history, memory and community voice | Ali Ghanimi

Our team was appalled and deeply saddened to learn of the attack on the Manchester synagogue and the loss of two lives. Given the deep emotions involved you would hope that our print media would show some restraint. But no. Vile headlines from the tabloids in the past two days. Building hate

The Convention on Human Rights is one of the greatest achievements of European civilisation following one of its greatest tragedies. To join Russia in leaving it would be one of the biggest acts of national self-sabotage in history and have zero positive consequences www.bbc.com/news/article...

Why do we have so much stuff but don't meet needs? youtu.be/sPMKp1MkAiA?... John Kenneth Galbraith’s The Affluent Society asked a question that still matters: how can we live with private luxury alongside public squalor?

Bill Clinton + McDonald’s + Blackpool = One of Alastair’s weirdest memories of party conference

* Andy Burnham breaks the silence on rejoining the EU * How McSweeney’s Labour Together reshaped the party into a Brexit outfit. * Reform’s narrative collapses as huge poll shows voters reject their fear-mongering All in this week's @pecksniffsdiary.bsky.social @eastangliabylines.co.uk

A reminder that "The UK government was secretly advised that Palestine Action is “highly unlikely” to advocate for violence while officials struggled to produce evidence the group posed a national security threat". www.declassifieduk.org/revealed-how...

We flounced out of the EU on the say-so of politicians who lied to us. And what a total shitshow that’s turned out to be. The polar opposite of what they promised. Now the call to flounce out of the ECHR. By the same people. Telling the same lies. Has the country been kicked in the head by a horse?

Brilliant examples of the energy and variety of #citizenjournalists writing about what inspires them in @sussexbylines.co.uk over the past week. From award-winning young writer @rudibanfield.bsky.social's CMAT gig review to a critique of Green Party policies. Find them on www.sussexbylines.co.uk

The campaign aims to secure the future of artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant’s historic studio | Maddy Maher

Irish popstar CMAT celebrates the launch of her third studio album Euro-Country | Rudi Banfield

It's the #GreensConference this coming weekend - and ahead of the event, Mick Channon explores whether the policies laid out in their manifesto stand up to scrutiny sussexbylines.co.uk/politics/sho...

Absolutely! This story is still as relevant today as it was then. The people causing the damage are still in place. Murdoch was even at Trumps royal banquet. This story should be shown to school children in the same way that Adolescence was, to show them what the monsters in power get up to.

The Green platform is ambitious yet voters remain wary | Mick Channon

Exciting developments mean white storks could once again be seen in London | Polly Wyatt

ITV's drama #TheHack is a must-watch. A great series about the brilliant investigative journalist NickDavies' exposure of the phone hacking scandal. @sussexbylines.co.uk featured him in the first Defenders of Democracy series sussexbylines.co.uk/politics/dem...